Members of jazz families reveal how they got their musical gene
Many stars of this year’s TD Toronto Jazz Festival can give credit for their talent to parents, siblings
The 29th TD Toronto Jazz Festival kicks off June 18. More than 1,500 musicians will perform in 50 locations before the festival winds up June 29. A thread of continuity runs through this year’s roster: many of the artists grew up listening to jazz in their homes. Mothers, fathers and siblings played an important role in their choosing the path to jazz. Their artistry is their own, but often there are echoes of other family members in their music-making. Here are seven shows of note. Eli Bennett Saxophone player Eli Bennett Quartet, Rex Hotel, June 25 Family ties: His father is Powder Blues Band drummer Daryl Bennett, with whom he has played and composed music.
“I was the first-born and my bedroom was in my dad’s studio, so being in music was pretty much a sure thing. I grew up listening to film scores. I started playing sax at 11 and performing at 13 in the Yale Hotel (in Vancouver). I was always working with my dad and he made sure I was OK. I went from the stage to backstage and sat on a church pew there for musicians.
“It was definitely a ride. He taught me how to tour and what it was like in the world.
“A lot end up learning that the hard way.” Celine Peterson Narrator, Oscar Peterson 90th Birthday Celebration, Jane Mallet Theatre, June18 Family ties: Her father was the late pianist Oscar Peterson.
“I’ll be sharing stories on the road with dad and sharing photos. I was born late in his career, the last 15 years of his life, and he had touring down to a routine.
“He’d arrive in a city, do a sound check and stay calm as possible. He didn’t eat before. He wanted my mother and I with him. Wherever we went, he would go to the big camera store; he loved to take pictures his whole life. He was interested in musical education and often came to my school. He bought ice cream for my school and participated in a Father’s Day event.” Branford Marsalis Saxophone player, An Evening with Branford Marsalis, Jane Mallett Theatre, June 24 Family ties: His father is educator and pianist Ellis Marsalis, Jr.; brothers are Wynton (trumpet), Delfeayo (trombone) and Jason (drums). All played on the album The Marsalis Family: A Jazz Celebration.
“I started being interested in music when I was 3 or 4. There was the song ‘Working in the Coal Mine’ and I used to go around the house singing it. I lived in the most musical city in North America (New Orleans). That really is the reason I got into music. My friends and I would go to school singing in three-part harmony. At that time, music nerd didn’t fit the profile. People thought it was cool. You could hear it all the time. I started playing piano, but I hated it. I’m a social individual and it involved lots of practising by yourself. That was what my dad liked, but I didn’t.” Freddy Cole Singer/pianist, Freddy Cole Quartet, Jazz Bistro, June 26 Family ties: Older brothers Eddy, Ike and Nat (King) Cole were all musicians. His voice is often compared to Nat’s.
“So many people influenced me in my family, but my older brother Eddy got all of us in the business. I’m just one of many Eddy influenced. My mother played piano and sang in the church. Growing up in Chicago was the best town for music, in the late ’30s and early ’50s. People went to Friday night dances, but that stopped with rock ’n’ roll. It’s coming back now. I have no playlist; when I get on the band stand is when I determine what we play. I take direction from the audience.” John Pizzarelli Guitarist/singer, Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli Quartet, Jessica Molaskey & Alex Pangman, Koerner Hall, June 24 Family ties: Son of guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, 92, with whom he has played, and spouse of singer Jessica Molaskey, his partner on Radio Deluxe.
“Our family would gather at my father’s uncle’s house on Sunday and after the food and drink was put away, dad would start playing the guitar. It was when I started to absorb the music gene. I learned a few songs on the banjo, ‘Yes Sir, That’s my Baby’ and ‘Sweet Sue,’ so I could join in. My father had friends playing at the house, like Zoot Sims, and you had to know ‘Honeysuckle Rose’ if you wanted to join them. When I learned it and he let me play, it was one of those seminal moments. I met Jessica when I was working on a Broadway dance show about Johnny Mercer, she was singing ‘Skylark.’” Carmen Bradford Singer, the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, Nathan Phillips Square, June 21. Family ties: Her father is trumpeter Bobby Bradford; mother is singer Melba Joyce; grandfather was singer Melvin Moore.
“I was the last singer Count Basie hired. He was just the sweetest man. He changed my life, he gave me wings. My parents were musical, my mother still sings and dad still is performing. It was hard to get away from music with two parent performers. I started off listening to Motown but, by the time I was 10, we were allowed to go to my mother’s concerts. She was touring with Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton and went on USO shows with Bob Hope. My grandfather was Melvin Moore, which is where my mother got her voice and I got my voice. When you’re heavily into jazz for three generations, it’s pretty serious.” Gerald Clayton Pianist, Charles Lloyd featuring Gerald Clayton, Joe Sanders and Kendrick Scott, Jane Mallett Theatre, June 26 Family ties: Plays with the Clayton Brothers Quintet with father John on bass and uncle Jeff on reeds, plus Obed Calvaire on drums and Terell Stafford on trumpet.
“I was fortunate. I grew up seeing a lot of rehearsals and sound checks. It was a loving environment, men giving each other hugs. (Father John) was always playing and I’d fall asleep hearing him play chords. I loved the music. He played with some great musicians. I continue to learn. I do it for the music.
“He taught me, ‘Raise the level of your art and the rest takes care of itself. Constantly try to better yourself and you are not going to lose focus.’ I’m lucky to have a loving family.”